The purpose of the study is to see if there is a difference in the amount of fat droplets reaching the heart during surgery between the standard reamer currently used and a new reamer system which is expected to reduce the fat going into the blood, via an intraoperative echocardiography done through the food pipe.

Using Transesophageal Echocardiography To Assess Fat Emboli As A Result Of Reaming In A Prospective Randomized Control Trial To Determine The Effectiveness Of Reaming In Diminishing Fat Emboli To The Lungs

Reamed intramedullary nailing of diaphyseal femur fractures remains the standard of care for treatment of these fractures. Pressurization of the femoral canal during reaming leads to extra vasations of fat emboli into the systemic circulation, resulting in deposition of fat droplets in the pulmonary vasculature. This phenomenon has been well documented by use of Transesophageal Echocardiography. A novel reaming system has recently become available that may limit this phenomenon. The new reamer system incorporates irrigation and aspiration during reaming, theoretically minimizing pressurization and fat emboli. Additionally, this reamer system allows for one pass reaming as compared to the current system which requires multiple reaming passes.

The objective of this study is to determine effectiveness of reaming in diminishing fat emboli to the lungs as evidenced by decreased numbers of large fat droplets entering the right heart as measured by transesophageal echocardiography during the reaming process. This will determine if there is a benefit to aspiration during reaming as would be expected.

During the reaming process a transesophageal echo cardiogram will be performed to analyze the presence or absence of emboli and the mean regarding the total time that each of the embolic grades is present during each of the intervals across the patient groups

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

diaphyseal femur fractures undergoing reamed intramedullary nailing

male or female

18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

None

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00327158